Netanyahu, warning that Iran could produce a functional nuclear weapon by summer 2013, urged world leaders to impose strict limits on the program's expansion.

Advertisement

"There is only one way to peacefully prevent Iran from getting atomic bombs: That's by placing a clear red line on Iran's nuclear weapons program," Netanyahu said in a strongly worded United Nations address.

"At stake is not the future of my country, but the world," he said. "And nothing would imperil the world more than the arming of Iran with nuclear weapons."

Netanyahu stressed that time was running out, predicting the Iranian government was already 70% of the way toward producing a nuclear weapon.

The prime minister compared the situation to the world's failure to address the rise of Hitler before World War II.

"Those who opposed that fanaticism waited too long to act," said Netanyahu, noting that the defeat of Germany came years later "at a terrific cost."

The veteran Israeli leader said holding the line on Iran now would lead the nation to back down — while creating more time for "sanctions and diplomacy to convince Iran to shut down its nuclear program entirely."

Netanyahu, who has publicly butted heads with the Obama administration over Iran, sounded a conciliatory note about the U.S. and Israel working together on the issue.

"I'm confident we can chart a path together," said the Israeli prime minister.

Netanyahu addressed the General Assembly one day after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad did. In his speech, Ahmadinejad never mentioned the country's nuclear program, but in the past, he has said it is benign.

But Israeli leaders believe their country is the ultimate target. In recent weeks, Israeli officials have suggested they would unleash a military strike on Iran's uranium enrichment program.

In response, Iranian officials said they could launch a preemptive strike on Israel if they feel threatened.

Ahmadinejad, during his rambling 35-minute Yom Kippur address, cited "the continuous threat by the uncivilized Zionists to resort to military action against our great nation."

The U.S. is bent on keeping the fragile peace in the region, particularly with the November presidential election just weeks away.

Netanyahu mentioned the hate-spewing Ahmadinejad during his speech, invoking the Iranian's frequent threats of violence against Israel.

Advertisement

"Iran's leader has repeatedly denied the Holocaust, and called for Israel's destruction on an almost daily basis," he said.

"Given this record of Iranian aggression without nuclear weapons, just imagine Iranian aggression with nuclear weapons ... their terror network armed with nuclear bombs."

Netanyahu and the Obama administration have been at odds in recent weeks over Iran's nuclear capabilities. And Obama was blasted by GOP presidential challenger Mitt Romney for his failure to meet with the prime minister during Netanyahu's three-day visit.

The White House, citing scheduling issues, noted that Netanyahu would instead meet with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.